Latch.



H. WEIDE.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. I914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca. PHoroLl'rl-lou WASHINGTON, o, c.

UNITED STATES FATE onnrcii.

HANS WEIDE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO OSWALID LORENZ,

' OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4:, 1915.

Application filed May 12, 1914. Serial No. 838,015.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HANS WEIDE, a citlzen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches, fully described and represented in the follow1ng specification and the accompanymg drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to an improved latch, adapted for use as a fastening device for boxes, trunks, bags, doors, and the like, the especial object of the invention being to provide a simple and efiicient construct on in which the automatic fastening operation of the latch shall be assured Without the use of weights or springs for controlling the arts.

p A further object of the invention is to prevent accidental unlatching.

For a full understanding of the invention, a detail description of a construction embodying the same will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating the invention as applied in 1ts preferred form to a box, and the features forming the invention then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 11s a vertical section through the box and cover in closed position, showing the latch in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig, 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the latch released and the box cover slightly raised. Fig. 1 is a cross section looking to the right on line 4. 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 1s a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in position of closing the box wlth the latch about to be operated.

Referring to the drawings, A is the box with a hinged cover B to which the invention is shown as applied. The box A carries the latch plate 10 pivoted at 1, and having its movement in both directions limited by stop 2, upon the box, shown as entering a slot in latch plate 10. The latch plate 1S provided with an upwardly extending arm 11, preferably bent outward shghtly from the box, as shown, and this arm carries the hook a, forming the latch proper, which hook has an inclined surface 3 on its end for a purpose presently to be descrlbed. The latch proper a is in vertical line with the pivot 1, in locking position, and at one side of the pivot 1 the latch plate is provided wlth a surface 4: forming an abutment by engagement with which the latch plate 10 is rocked on its pivot 1 in latching direction and held in latched position, and the latch plate 10 is provided with a finger piece 5 for moving the latch plate in the other direction in unlatching.

The cover B carries the catch plate 12 having catch arm 13 on which is formed the catch proper 6, shown as a notch in the front edge of the catch arm, and the end of the arm is bent sidewise away from the latch arm 11, so as to form a trip 6 for engaging abutment 41 on the latch plate. The arm 13 is preferably provided, also, with a shoulder 7 on its front edge, positioned to engage the incline 3 on the end of the latch a, as described hereafter.

The operation of the construction will be understood from a brief description in connection with the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the box is closed with the latch a engaged by catch Z), the pull on attempted lifting of the cover being substantially in line with the pivot 1, so that there is no tendency to unlatch, but the cover is locked against lifting. For unlatching the cover to open the box, the latch plate 10 is moved by finger piece 5 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which withdraws the latch a from catch 6. This rocking of the latch plate 10 to withdraw latch a necessitates the raising of the cover B at the same time, as the trip 6 at the end of catch arm 13 is in engagement with abutment 4 of latch plate 10 at one side of the pivot 1. It is necessary, therefore, that the cover be lifted by hand simultaneously with the rocking of the latch plate, to permit the latch plate 10 to be rocked on its pivot, two movements thus being necessary to open the box and any danger of accidental unlatching being thus avoided. If the weight of the cover or other part to be moved be light, this coaction of abutment 1 and catch arm 13 may be used to lift the cover slightly by the rocking of latch plate 10, which may be found useful in some cases.

In closing the box, the latching is automatic and assured, as follows: The latch is catch arm 13 below catch Z) will strike the incline 3 and rock the latch a to the right from the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to permit the straight portion of arm 13 to pass the latch and, as latch (4 comes opposite the catch 6, the trip 6 at the end of arm 13 engages abutment 4L on the latch plate 10 and rocks the latch plate to move the latch a positively into latching position with catch Z), as shown in Fig. 2. If latch plate 10, after unlatching, remains in the position shown in Fi g. 3, until the closing of the box, the operation is the same, except that there is no throwing out of the latch a to permit catch arm 13 to pass it, but the trip 6 engages abutment i in the same manner to assure latching, when the latch (t is opposite the catch 5.

It will be undorstood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact form or arrangement of parts illustrated, but that many modifications may be made within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is.

1. The combination of a pivoted latch plate and latch carried thereby, a catch coacting with the latch, a catch plate carrying the catch and engaging the latch plate during the latching movement to move the latch into latching engagement with the catch and hold the latch in position to prevent unlatching except by the simultaneous rocking of the latch plate and movement of the catch plate, the engaging surfaces of the latch and catch in latched position being in line with the pivot and upon the line of movement of the parts away from each other, whereby separation of the parts without unlatching is resisted by direct pull upon the latch pivot.

2. The combination of a pivoted latch plate and hooked latch carried thereby, said latch having an incline, of a catch co-acting with the latch, a catch plate carrying the catch and engaging the incline on the latch to rock the latch out of the path of the catch plate and engaging the latch plate during the latching movement to move the latch into latching engagement with the catch and told the latch in position to prevent unplate 10, having arm 11 carrying hooked latch a and abutment surface t at one side of the pivot, of catch arm 13 having catch opening Z), and havin an extension beyond the catch forming trip 6 engaging the abutment surface 4 to rock the latch plate into and hold it in latching position, the engaging surfaces of the latch and catch in latched position being in line with the pivot and upon the line of movement of the parts away from each other, whereby separation of the parts without unlatching is resisted by direct pull upon the latch pivot.

i. The combination with pivoted latch plate 10, having hooked latch a, with end incline 3, arm 11 carrying hooked latch a, and abutment surface t at one side of the pivot, of catch arm 13 having catch opening Z) and having an extension beyond the catch engaging the incline 3 to rock the latch out of the path of the arm, and trip G engag ing the abutment surface 4 to rock the latch plate into and hold it in latching position, the engaging surfaces of the latch and catch in latched position being in line with the pivot and upon the line of movement of the parts away from each other, whereby separation of the parts without unlatching is resisted by direct pull upon the latch pivot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HANS VVEIDE. Witnesses A. W HITE, C. J SAWYER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

